I grow this rose because I do love the flowers but I have to admit that it's quite blackspotty in my climate which is cool temperate. Nonetheless, it's a strong grower which I'm prepared to spray occasionally because of the beauty & fragrance of its flowers.

William Shakespeare is a beautiful rose but he does benefit from being sprayed with a dormant oil and sulphur before he buds out. Just follow the directions on the package for roses instead of fruit trees. Gardeners say that William Shakespeare 2000 is a better rose as it is not as prone to black spot.